Historic Semifinals: For First Time, Top Four FIFA-Ranked Teams Reach World Cup Final Four

Football fans are in for a historic treat. For the first time since FIFA's ranking system was introduced, all four semifinalists at the World Cup are the top four teams in the world. And for the first time since 1990, every semifinalist has previously won the tournament. The first semifinal pits France against Spain on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The two sides met in the Euro 2024 semifinal, where Spain won 2-1 thanks to a goal from a 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. Spain went on to lift the trophy after beating England in the final. France now boasts one of the most prolific attacks in the tournament, while Spain is dealing with injury doubts over Yamal and Nico Williams. In the last two rounds, Spain edged past Portugal and Belgium with late winners from Mikel Merino. The second semifinal sees Argentina take on England on Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia. If France and Argentina both advance, the final will be a rematch of the 2022 showpiece. Argentina needs to beat England to reach back-to-back finals. The rivalry is steeped in history — from Rattin's sending-off in 1966, Maradona's Hand of God in 1986, Beckham's red card in 1998, to Beckham's penalty that eliminated Argentina in the 2002 group stage. Interestingly, this will be Lionel Messi's first ever match against England. In the race for the Golden Boot, Messi and Kylian Mbappe are tied on eight goals each. Erling Haaland (Norway) finished with seven, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane (both England) have six, Ousmane Dembele (France) has five, and Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) has four. All-time World Cup goals: Messi 21, Mbappe 20. If Argentina win the tournament, Messi will claim his second World Cup title, surpassing Diego Maradona, and Argentina would become the first team since Brazil (1958, 1962) to win back-to-back World Cups.